15 bodies recovered as 77 rescued from Kariba boat disaster

FIFTEEN bodies have been recovered while 77 passengers have been rescued following the capsizing of a boat on Lake Kariba, with 27 people still unaccounted for, according to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU).

In a statement, Mashonaland West Provincial Administrator and CPU head Cecilia Chitiyo said the boat was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an undisclosed number of children below ticketing age.

The figures were established through tickets checked against accounts, she said.

Chitiyo said the vessel had a carrying capacity of 90 people.

The 77 rescued passengers are on Long Island in Lake Kariba, where rescue teams are working to bring them to safety on the mainland.

Two funeral parlours have been engaged to collect and process the 15 bodies recovered so far.

The Sub-Aqua Unit has also been airlifted to the scene to join the search and rescue operation.

Chitiyo said the situation remained fluid as the search continued and recommended that the incident be declared a state of disaster.

Further updates are expected as rescue and recovery operations continue.